St. Nicholas of Wilden & Albert Panchaud

The Church of England’s St. Nicholas at Wilden was built around 1200 AD and is built in the Gothic style of stone. The church consists of chancel, nave, south porch and a tower which holds three bells. The church is located in the small parish of Wilden in the county of Bedforeshire, England.

Earliest mention of the church is 1231 when it was in the King’s gift. In 1291 the living was valued at £13. 6s. 8d. The earliest church records date to the year 1545 and the following is the known list of rectors for Wilden St. Nicholas.

Nicholas de Breaut – 1222

Peter Ridel – 1237

Simon de Pabenham – 1246

Robert de Bueles – 1264

Malcolm de Harlye – 1273

Simon de Pavenham – 1298

John de Pabenham – 1321

Edmund de Pavenham – 1343

Robert Braybrok – 1361

Robert de Eston – 1362

William de Lokyngton – 1373

John Amy – 1375

John Seward – 1412

Thomas Gyles – 1416

Thomas Bylman – 1421

Richard Elstowe – 1456

Thomas Mychel – 1456

William Brande – 1472

Richard Kirkby – 1505

John Phillips – 1571

Walter Atkins – 1577

Richard Worsley – 1579

Francis Dillingham – 1600

Jasper Fisher – 1624

Thomas Watson – 1643

Thomas Rolt – 1657

John Nodes – 1695

Robert Paradine – 1718

Thomas Holme – 1742

William Fisher – 1747

Robert Holt Butcher – 1774

Edward Emily – 1779

Samuel Kent – 1781

William Morris – 1784

William Morris – 1806

John Vaux Moore – 1822

William Shove Chalk -1835

Richard Gregory Chalk – 1849

Edward W. Jones -1899

Robert Davies – 1905

John R. Pullan – 1907

Reginald Paddick – 1927

Albert L. Panchaud – 1931

Richard C. Chalk – 1941

Signey W. Golding – 1946

William R. Peverley – 1954

Leonard B. Impson – 1962

David Lewthwaite – 1975

Lawrence Griffith – 1980

John Heffer – 1988

Robin Rogers – 1992

Sheila Morton – 2008

Father Edmund de Pavenham survived the plague in which many victims were buried in a pit between the church and South Brook. And another famous rector, Francis Dillingham (1600-1624), was a translator of the authorized version, King James, of the Bible. He was buried at Wilden but no memorial or trace of the grave has been found.

The Reverend Albert Louis Panchaud, 1877-1941

My great uncle Albert Louis PANCHAUD was rector of St. Nicholas from 1932 until his death in 1941.

The Bedford Times

June 13, 1941 page 5

THE LATE REV. A. L. PANCHAUD

Loss to Two Bedfordshire Parishes

The funeral took place at Wilden Parish Church on Saturday of the Rev. Albert Louis Panchaud, late Rector of Wilden and Vicar of Ravensden, who died on 3rd June at the age of sixty-five years at St. Veryan, near Truro, Cornwall.

Mr. Panchaud was trained for the Ministry at the St. Aidan’s Clergy Training Hotel, Ballarat, Australia. Ordained Deacon in 1904 and Priest the following year by the Bishop of Ballarat, he worked in the Church of Australia for six years. He was for two years in India, and was teaching in England for five years, being for some time Head Master of Oak House School, Axminster, Somerset. In 1918 he was in Egypt and Palestine. Returning to England in 1919, he became Assistant Curate of Furneaux Pelham, Hertfordshire. The next year he went to Throcking, Hertfordshire, as Rector, where he stayed until 1931.

Mr. Panchaud became Rector of Wilden and Vicar of Ravensden in 1931 and resigned last November because of ill-health. He was popular in his parishes, had a good influence over young people, and took a great pride in the upkeep and beautifying of the churches. Until he went to Cornwall three weeks ago, he had been residing at Home Farm, Ravensden.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE

A large and representative congregation from Wilden and Ravensden attended the funeral, the following clergy being present: The Rev. E. Fisher, Rector of Little Staughton, who read the opening Sentences; the Rev J. Luxford, Curate-in-Charge of Wilden and Ravensden, who read the Lesson; the Rev. H. F. D. Wynne, Rector of Colmworth, who said the Prayers in church; the Rev. W. G. Gould, Rector of Pertenhall, who read the Sentences at the graveside; and the Rural Dean, the Rev. J. Paulson, Vicar of Riseley, who said the Committal. Miss M. Harrison was at the organ, and the choir was present. The late Rector’s favourite hymns, “Jesu, lover of my soul” and “Fight the good fight,” were sung, and the Twenty-third Psalm was chanted.

Floral tributes were sent from: Brother and family, Bermuda; Clergy of Riseley Rural Deanery; Children and staff, Wilden School; Organist and choir, Wilden; Members of Ravensden P.C.C.; Hilda and Monty, Home Farm, Ravensden; Mrs. Harden and Nancy; All at Rosedale; Mr. and Mrs. Wootton and family; Miss Wiles, Bedford; Mrs. And Mrs. Whitmore and family; Mr. and Mrs. Dean and family; Mr. and Mrs. Coles and Mr. and Mrs. Draper and Mary; Mr. and Mrs. Pell; Mr. and Mrs. Filsell; Mr. and Mrs. Lovell and family; Mr. and Mrs. Pell; Mr. and Mrs. Croft and family; Friend Albert; Friend Marjorie.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Clarabut and Plumbe of Bedford.